Scrolling in the Deep: Are you a good boy?

A 2025 Gen Zalpha slang has middle-school teachers pinpricking with frustration––teen boys calling each other “good boy.” The slang has become so commonplace in classrooms that some teachers––and annoyed parents––have instituted bans on using it. But is it really inappropriate? And do the wielders even know what it means?

Who’s a ‘good boy’

Originating from some TikTok videos in which boys approach police officers and ask for their badge numbers, ‘good boy’ is now used to address anyone who adheres to your command.